Goa Tiger Reserve Proposal

Why in news?

• A Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended creating a Tiger Reserve in Goa in phases.
• This issue arose after:
  • Bombay High Court (July 2023) ordered Goa to notify five protected areas as a Tiger Reserve.
  • Goa challenged this HC order in the Supreme Court.

High Court’s directive (2023)

The HC ordered Goa to:

1. Notify Mhadei WLS + 4 other sanctuaries as a tiger reserve within 3 months.
2. Prepare a Tiger Conservation Plan.
3. Settle rights of Scheduled Tribes & forest dwellers under FRA, 2006.

Trigger

• January 2020: 1 tigress + 3 cubs poisoned in Mhadei.
• NTCA (2016): Already recommended declaring a Tiger Reserve.

 2. Why is Goa resisting?

The Goa government argued:

Claim 1: “Over 1 lakh people will be displaced.”

→ But its own affidavit later admitted:

• Only 1,274 households across 33 villages, i.e., 5,000–6,000 people.

Claim 2: “Goa has no resident tigers, only transient ones.”

→ Internally, government documents contradict this.
→ Tiger movement between Goa–Karnataka–Maharashtra is scientifically documented.

 3. What did the CEC find?

The CEC conducted:

• Field visits
• Meetings with villagers, forest officials, NGOs

Key observations

• Forest dwellers fear forced displacement.
• The State must allay these fears through proper communication.
• A phased tiger reserve will minimize disruption.

 4. CEC’s Proposed Structure of the Goa Tiger Reserve

Phase 1: Core Area (Least human presence + contiguous with Kali Tiger Reserve of Northern Karnataka)

Core:

• Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
  • 50 households
• Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
  • 41 households
    ➡ Combined: 296.7 sq km

Phase 1: Buffer Area

• Northern part of Bhagwan Mahavir WLS (9 households)
• Bhagwan Mahavir National Park (2 households)
  ➡ Combined: 171 sq km

Total Area in Phase-1

→ 468.6 sq km

This area is fully contiguous with:

• Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve (1,345 sq km)
• Together: Integrated landscape: 1,814 sq km

Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (208 sq km)

• Contains 612 households –  largest human presence.
• Shares limited boundary with Kali reserve.
• To be included later, after consultations.

 5. Why are Tiger Reserves important?

Tiger Reserve = Core Zone + Buffer Zone

Core Zone

• “Inviolate” (no human habitation ideally)
• Strict protection
• People cannot be forced to leave
  • Only voluntary relocation
  • Based on FRA 2006 rights, compensation

Buffer Zone

• Human activity allowed
• Eco-development, sustainable practices
• Acts as “shield” to core

Benefits of Tiger Reserves

• Enhances movement corridors
• Improves landscape-level conservation
• Brings more central funding from NTCA
• Supports habitat for elephants, leopards, gaur, biodiversity

 6. Why is contiguity with Kali Tiger Reserve important?

Landscape connectivity

• Tigers need large territories (60–100 sq km per male).
• Goa forests link:
  • Kali Tiger Reserve (Karnataka)
  • Bhimgad WLS (Karnataka)
  • Radhanagari WLS (Maharashtra)
• A continuous landscape ensures:
  • Genetic diversity
  • Avoidance of inbreeding
  • Safe movement

 7. Key Concepts

 Central Empowered Committee (CEC)

• Set up by Supreme Court (2002)
• Advises SC on:
  • Forest conservation
  • Environmental violations
  • Wildlife management

 Tiger Reserve Declaration

Under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Section 38V):

• State notifies tiger reserve
• NTCA approves Tiger Conservation Plan
• No alteration of boundaries without NTCA + Parliament approval

 Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006

• Recognises rights of forest dwellers on land & forest produce
• No relocation without:
  • Consent of Gram Sabha
  • Compensation package

Practice MCQs

With reference to Tiger Reserves in India, consider the following statements:

1. The declaration of a Tiger Reserve by a State Government requires prior approval of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
2. No modification of the boundaries of a Tiger Reserve can be made without the approval of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and the National Board for Wildlife.
3. Core zones of Tiger Reserves must be completely free of human habitation by law.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3